Lineman&#39;s staff



W. H. PAYNE LINEMANS STAFF Jan. 10, 1928.

Filed Jan. 1

lf atented J 10, 1928" UNITED STATES WILLIAM H. PAYNE, Oh EAGLE GROVE, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OE ONE-FOURTH TO A.

PARSONS, OF EAGLE GROVE, IOWA.

insane rA'rEu'r OFFICE.

LINEMANS STAFF.

Application filed January 25, 1927. Serial N0- 163,543.

My invention relates to linesinens stati's for quickly and accurately indicating at the side line the position oil-T a football upon the play ing field.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of this character having a series of sighting elements whereby to enable the linesnian to place the stall at a position along the side-line of the playing lield correspond ing to the position of the ball between the opposite goal posts.

it further object is to provide means for locating and placing the device along the side-line ot the field should the same become obscured Uther objects and advanta reside in the combination arrangement and construction oi the various elements torn'iing the invention as more tullyhereinafter explained in the following specification and claims, reterence being had to the accompanying (flrawing forming part hereoi wherein like nunierals refer to like parts throughout and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view,

Figure 2 a diagrammatic view of a portion oi? a playing field showing my inventlon in use,

Figure 3 is an elevational view oi the targe for locating the side-line and Figure l is a detail of the mounting for the down indicating boa.

Referring now to the drawing I have dis closed a preferred embodiment of my invention comprising a vertically extending post 5 near the base of which provided a pair of inclined braces 6 arranged at opposite sides ot the post and constituting legs therefor. lhe upper end oil the post is rounded and adapted to rotatably support a box 7, preferably cube-shaped and provided with a cei'itral bore for receiving the rounded end of the post. it washer 8 may be disposed at the base of the rounded section of the post upon which the box may rest so as to facili tate the free rotation thereof.

The box has its vertically disposed faces provided with suitable indicia 9, such as the numerals 1,- 2, 3., and i, t r the purpose oi ini'l'icating to the players 01' others the number of plays or downs which have been played and the top oi the box is likewise provided near its edges with correspoi'iding mdicia or numbers 10.

I secure a horizontal arm 11 to the post inin ediately beneath the box 7, the arm extendingat right angles to the sides of the post to which the braces (i are attached. At the outer end of the arm I arrange a sighting member 12 comprising a short post extending vertically from the arm and terminating at a horizontal plane with the top of the post 5. A. vertical slot 13 is formed in the top of the sighting member by means of which the upper end oi the post may be aligned with a distant object. An inclined brace li extending from the post to the end of the arm is provided to support the arm in a horizontal position and a handle 15 is attached at the junction oi. the brace and the arm to facilitate the transportation and sighting ol. the device.

it lateral arm 16 is attached at the end of the arm 'll and is also horizontally arranged, the lateral arin being at right angles to the arm 11 and parallel along a vertical plane with the braces 6. At the end of the lateral arm I provide a short post 17 equal in height to the sighting member 12. Corner braces 18 are titted at the junction oi the various posts and arms to properly secure the parts.

In use the braces or legs 6 oi 'the device are placed along the sideline of the playing tield in such a position that the ootl'iall ap years in alignment with the post and the slot 13 ot the sightin inen'iber. llbus the exact longitudinal position (it the ball upon the field accurately inilicated on the sideline by the base ot the post 5.

Should the side-line becoine obscured or invisible, as by snow, targets 19, comprising stakes ot a suitable height, are placed apart near one end oi? the field at a distance :troin the sideline equal to the distance between the post 5 and the sighting member 152. Thus by aligning the post 17 and the sighting member with the targets the correct position of the sideline may be located.

The various parts of the device are adapt ed tor construction out of. wood or light metal as desired.

lVhile I have disclosed a preferred term 0-? construction for carrying out my invention it is obvious the same is susceptible 0t till till

'various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims, and I accordher, the alignment of said sighting member andsaid lateral post being arranged in parallel' relation with the alignment of said legs. V

2. A football linesmans staff comprising a post, a pair of legs arranged at opposite sides thereof, a horizontal arm carried by said post and arranged at right angles with respect to the alignment of said legs and a sighting post supported by said arm having a sighting slot formed therein adapted for alignment with said first named post, one of said posts constituting a shaft and adapted to rot-atably carry a device for indicating a certain element of play with respect to the positionof the post. I

3. A football linesmans stafi comprising a post, a pair of legs arranged at opposite sides thereof, a horizontal arm carried by said post and arranged at right angles with respect to the alignment of said legs, a

sighting'post supported by said arm having a sighting slot formed therein adapted for alignment with said first named post, a latorally extending horizontal arm attached at the end of said first named arm and disposed parallel uith said legs and a post supported at the end thereof, one of said posts forming a vertically disposed shaft adapted to have an indicator rotatahly arranged thereon.

4. A football linesmans staff comprising a substantially elongated post rounded at its upper end, inclined legs extending outwardly from opposite sides thereof, a horizontally disposed rm attached near the upper end of the post and arranged at right angles with respect to said legs, an u nvardly extending post secured to the end of said arm and having a sighting slot provided tl erein, a laterally extending horizontal arm detachably secured to said. first named arm and arranged pa 'allel with respect to said legs, an upwardly extending post secured at the end of said lateral arm, the posts of said arms being adapted for alignment with a pair of distantly aligned talzes and said first named post forming a vertical shaft adapted to have a cube-shaped box rotatably mounted at the rounded end thereof, said box having corresponding indici a displayed upon the sides and top ed es thereof to indicate the number of plays required to reach the objective designated by the position of the post.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

WILLIAM H. PAYNE 

